“To appreciate a diamond, the surface must be pierced to release the dazzling display of color that can come from its heart; but to appreciate the pearl, the eye must simply gaze upon its surface to behold its soft color and peaceful beauty". ~Alain Boucheron~

"Contrary to Ordinary"

The Black Pearls of the Dog World

~Making a difference: one black dog at a time through education, awareness and action~

Please adopt responsibly based on a personality and lifestyle match

Did You Know: We are guessing that the general public is not aware of how doomed black dogs are when they are brought to a pound because black dogs, particularly black labs or lab mixes, are euthanized at a horrifying rate at many pounds & shelters because people pass them up for lighter colored dogs. If you are thinking about adopting a dog please don't overlook black dogs because they are just as loving & wonderful as lighter colored dogs! Martin County Animal Shelter, Fairmont,MN

"URGENT, URGENT, URGENT" We always have several really nice black dogs here that desperately need a home! Black dogs are often the last to adopt out, for whatever the reason, whether it's because they don't photograph as well, or people think they look meaner, etc. But they are just as sweet on the inside and are also strikingly beautiful on the outside with their shiny black coats. Please take a moment to look at these dogs - they need a loving home too! Before it's too late.Madison-Jefferson Animal Shelter, Madison, In

Black dogs are commonly the last, if at all, to be adopted. Destined for death in many shelters they are passed up for whatever the reason:

"Sheba is a blue-eyed beauty. The combination of blue eyes set into the black lab face is really striking. Unfortunately, no one ever really admired her beauty before. This gorgeous young female black lab mix spent most of her two years of life chained in a yard without even a dog house to shelter her from the elements. She was removed from the home by animal control and brought to the Mason County Animal Shelter in Point Pleasant, WV. When she came in, she was extremely thin, but she is improving every day.

Unfortunately, Sheba's days are numbered. This small shelter, with a capacity of about 24 dogs, has more than a hundred, and the county has given them until November 1st to bring the numbers down to that official capacity - one way or another. If dogs are not moved out into forever homes or rescues before that date, they will be gassed.

Poor Sheba will probably be one of the first to die. She has several strikes against her. 1. She's a black lab. Nobody seems to want black labs in WV. 2. She's a big girl. Big dogs are hard to place, and with so many of them at the shelter........"

Loving, caring shelters become strained under this thinking and to avoid overcrowding and/or euthanasia are forced to put indirect sale tags ("1/2 price movers") on them. Furthermore, some shelters BOGO (buy one get one) their dark coated canines to help draw attention to these brilliant yet transparent waiting dogs.

5) Over heat quicker in outdoor sport competitions:

"There is another venue in which black dogs are discriminated against - dogsledding. The reasons are sound, but sometimes good dogs are overlooked because they are black. Black dogs over heat faster than lighter colored dogs especially in our increasingly warm winters, so mushers tend to choose lighter colored dogs. There is a simple remedy however......." To know more about this simple remedy and to meet a musher click on this racing photo:

"We ought not to treat creatures like shoes or household belongings, which when worn with use we throw away". ~Plutarch

A person desiring to add a dog into their heart and life doesn't have to look far beyond their own backyard to find shelters clamoring for loving quality adopters to pay attention to their dark colored dogs. These "ordinary" black faces get lost in the sea of faces of every hopeful dog relinquished or placed within a shelters or rescues kennel run, crate or exercise yard.

This unfortunate phenomena has a name: Black Dog Syndrome

It is our desire to step out, among the many others who have already done so, and help these innately and outwardly beautiful black dogs avoid the price that they will pay because of this sad reality. Shelters and rescues have different policies in regards to euthanasia: no kill to high kill. Some black dogs will die of natural causes within the system because they will wait a lifetime to be noticed. Many won't even get a week.

As you browse these pages please consider if you would like to become apart of the loving miracle of a forever home for a black dog, a beautiful gem of the heart, through rescue and adoption. Begin your journey now by choosing a paw to the left and visiting one of the many information pages we have assembled on behalf of these waiting pearls. We are grateful you are taking the time to visit and are not deaf by the busyness of life to the voice or inner nudging felt upon meeting an animal in hope of a rescue. "Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way.....but you can never say again that you did not know." William Wilberforce 1759-1833

The dog rescue organizations listed on this web site are totally independent of each other and cannot be held responsible for the actions of any rescue organization listed. Nor can the webmaster be held liable or responsible for any problems arising from the information or usage of information displayed and or contained herewithin. We reserve the right to list and delete any information, listing or pictures at our own discretions and without repercussions upon permission and/or submission. By using this web site, as a reader or submitting or agreeing to submit, you acknowledge that you expressly and voluntarily release the webmaster and all rescue groups listed for any and all damages that may be incurred by the use of the information contained and linked within these pages. By submitting or giving permission for photos you agree to transfer all rights and information associated with photo to blackpearl for use in promotional's and/or adoption listings. If you see an image or text that belongs to you and you would like it removed, please send me your copyright information or request for removal and I will remove it immediately. Thanks!!

~Contrary to Ordinary began in November 2004~

Enjoy your exploration, feel free to leave a message in our guest book and thank you for visiting, we are honored. May a black pearly dog come to live in your heart and home soon. Go beyond our homepage, we have many exciting pages at this site. Check back often, we update routinely! Special note: I wish we could respond to the guestbook enteries personally but due to a number of "loaded" email addresses, we are not able to discern who we can respond to safely. Thank you for your understanding.

Desmond Morris states: "....people who keep dogs live longer on average than those who do not. This is not some kind of pro-canine campaigning fantasy. It is a simple medical fact that the calming influence of the company of a friendly pet animal reduces blood pressure and therefore the risk of heart attack."

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My name is Sam

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Contrary to Ordinary

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our hearts

Free to a good home

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Charlotte

Click on Jake

Internet Hoax?

US studies show the following numbers in relation to animal relinquishment at shelters:

If you have a black dog…or know someone who does…there’s a new book just for you. Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs is a photographic tribute to America’s least appreciated canines by writer and photographer Pam Townsend. To know more about the book and to receive one as a "Thank You" visit: